U.S. patent application number 12/047559 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-30 for bookbinding apparatus and image forming system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Masahiro KANEKO.
Application Number | 20080267734 12/047559 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39887170 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080267734 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KANEKO; Masahiro |
October 30, 2008 |
BOOKBINDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM
Abstract
A bookbinding apparatus having: a coating device for coating
adhesive onto a spine of a sheet bundle; a first moving device
which moves the coating device along the spine of the sheet bundle;
a second moving device which moves the coating device in a
substantially perpendicular direction to a surface of the spine;
and a control device, wherein the control device controls the first
moving device to move the coating device along the spine from near
a one corner of the spine of the sheet bundle toward another corner
until the coating device reaches to near the another corner of the
spine of the sheet bundle, then controls the second moving device
to separate the coating device away from the spine of the sheet
bundle and keeps the coating device for a predetermined duration
after separating
Inventors: |
KANEKO; Masahiro; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRISHAUF, HOLTZ, GOODMAN & CHICK, PC
220 Fifth Avenue, 16TH Floor
NEW YORK
NY
10001-7708
US
|
Assignee: |
Konica Minolta Business
Technologies, Inc.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39887170 |
Appl. No.: |
12/047559 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
412/13 ; 412/37;
412/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42C 9/0012
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
412/13 ; 412/37;
412/9 |
International
Class: |
B42C 13/00 20060101
B42C013/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2007 |
JP |
JP2007-118449 |
Claims
1. A bookbinding apparatus comprising: a coating device for coating
adhesive onto a spine of a sheet bundle; a first moving device
which moves the coating device along the spine of the sheet bundle;
a second moving device which contacts and separates the coating
device against and away from the spine of the sheet bundle in a
substantially perpendicular direction to a surface of the spine;
and a control device which controls the first moving device, the
second moving device and the coating device, wherein the control
device controls the first moving device to move the coating device
along the spine from near one corner of the spine of the sheet
bundle toward another corner until the coating device reaches to
near the another corner of the spine of the sheet bundle, then
controls the second moving device to separate the coating device
away from the spine of the sheet bundle and keep the coating device
for a predetermined duration after separating.
2. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each
near the one corner of the spine and near the another corner of
spine is a position 0-15 mm inside from each corner.
3. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
predetermined duration is not less than 0.5 second and not more
than an open time of the adhesives.
4. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
control device controls the first moving device to move the coating
device from near the one corner to near the another corner along
the spine based on setup sheet size information.
5. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
control device controls the second moving device to move coating
device toward the spine of the sheet bundle after the predetermined
duration of keeping the coating device and then controls the first
moving device to move the coating device to near the one corner
from near the another corner along the spine.
6. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
control device controls the second moving device to move the
coating device toward the spine of the sheet bundle in the case
when the coating device moves from near the one corner to near the
another corner and in the case when the coating device moves from
near the another corner to near the one corner, or in the case when
the coating device moves from near the one corner to near the
another corner.
7. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus
for forming image on a sheet and the bookbinding apparatus
according to claim 1 which binds sheet on which an image has been
formed by the image forming apparatus into a booklet.
8. A bookbinding apparatus comprising: a coating device which coats
adhesive onto a spine of a sheet bundle, a first moving device
which moves the coating device along the spine of the sheet bundles
a second moving device which contacts and separates the coating
device against and away from the spine of the sheet bundle in a
substantially perpendicular direction toward a surface of the
spine; and a control device which controls the first moving device,
the second moving device and the coating device, wherein the
coating device comprises an adhesive tub which accommodates an
adhesive, and a coating roller for supplying the adhesive in the
adhesive tub onto the spine of the sheet bundler and wherein the
control device controls the first moving device to move the coating
device along the spine from near one corner of the spine of the
sheet bundle toward another corner until the coating device reaches
to near the another corner of the spine of the sheet bundle, then
controls the second moving device to separate the coating device
away from the spine of the sheet bundle, further controls the first
moving device to move the coating device until a plumb which passes
near the another corner of the spine is located in a zone from an
inner side of a corner of the adhesive tub to a peripheral surface
of the coating roller and keeps the coating device for a
predetermined duration.
9. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each
near the one corner of the spine and near the another corner of
spine is a position 0-15 mm inside from each corner.
10. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
predetermined duration is not less than 0.5 second and not more
than an open time of the adhesives.
11. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
control device controls the first moving device to move the coating
device from near the one corner to near the another corner along
the spine based on setup sheet size information.
12. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
control device controls the first moving device to move coating
device until near the another corner of the spine of the sheet
bundle after the predetermined duration of the stop of the coating
device, and then the control device controls the second moving
device to move coating device toward the spine of the sheet bundle
and makes the first moving device to make the coating device to
move to near the one corner from near the another corner along the
spine.
13. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, the
control device controls the second moving device to move the
coating device towards the spine of the sheet bundle after the
predetermined duration of the stop of the coating device, and then
controls the first moving device to move the coating device to near
the one corner from near the another corner along the spine.
14. The bookbinding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
control device controls the second moving device to move the
coating device towards the spine of the sheet bundle in the case
when the coating device moves from near the one corner to near the
another corner and in the case when the coating device moves from
near the another corner to near the one corner, or when the coating
device moves from near the one corner to near the another
corner.
15. An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus
for forming image on a sheet and the bookbinding apparatus
according to claim 8 which binds sheet on which an image has been
formed by the image forming apparatus into a booklet.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application NO.
2007-118449 filed on Apr. 27, 2007 in Japan Patent Office, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a bookbinding apparatus and an
image forming system having the bookbinding apparatus, particularly
relates to an art for making a booklet by adhearing a plurality of
sheets with adhesive.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the field of a light production, the image forming
system, which performs from printing to bookbinding and creates a
booklet, has widely spread by connecting a bookbinding apparatus
and the image forming apparatus having high-speed image formation
performance, like, for example, an electro photography image
forming apparatus.
[0004] According to the conventional and general bookbinding
process, a printing process and a bookbinding process are
respectively executed as separate processes in such image forming
system On the other hand, although printing speed and the
bookbinding speed itself are low, it has the advantage that the
contents of printing can be changed at any time, and synthetically,
it is an efficient image forming system and is used as a POD (PRINT
ON DEMAND) system.
[0005] A feature of the POD system is that it is very flexible such
that the contents of printing can be changed at any time according
to a customer's request. Therefore, in the POD system, the
booklets, from a several tens page booklet to the booklet of
hundreds pages, which cover a large area and have different
thicknesses, are created. The POD system can also handle various
kinds of sheets.
[0006] On the other hand, since in many cases, the POD system is
installed in an office environment, a small size design is
required.
[0007] For this reason, in the bookbinding apparatus, which
configures the system, a comparatively simple binding process is
needed and the process of binding sheets using adhesives is
used.
[0008] With respect to such bookbinding apparatus, a bookbinding
apparatus disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2004-209744 has been known.
[0009] According to the bookbinding apparatus disclosed in
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-209744,
adhesives are applied along the spine of a sheet bundle in the
longitudinal direction by a coating roller, which moves back and
forth, and the coating amount corresponding to the thickness of the
booklet is controlled by the bookbinding apparatus by the selection
of the rotation direction of the coating roller.
[0010] According to the conventional method for forming a booklet
by coating the adhesive onto the spine of the sheet bundle, it is
known that there is a problem that in case when the thickness of
the coated adhesive is thin, the adhesive will break when opening
the formed booklet.
[0011] Further, when separating the coating roller from the sheet
bundle at the end of coating of the adhesive, the thickness of
adhesive partially became thick and became a convex shape facing
downward. When the coating thickness of the adhesives was
thickened, the convex section becomes a drop and drips befouling
the inside of an apparatus, and the convex section may have become
a drop, and may befoul the inside of the apparatus.
[0012] Since the inside of the apparatus has to be cleaned in the
event that the drop and the thread of the adhesives have adhered in
the apparatus, there had been a problem, which causes the increase
in a maintenance man hour and the decline of productivity. When not
maintained, there was a problem that the thread of the adhesives
might adhere to the sheet bundle.
[0013] It becomes possible to coat adhesives uniformly by the
bookbinding apparatus disclosed in the patent reference No. 1 by
carrying out back and forth movement of the coating roller along
the spine of the sheet bundle, coating adhesives, and stopping the
coating roller after double action. However, the problem that the
adhesives mentioned above become a drop shape or a thread shape has
not been fully described, and the explanation of the concrete the
stop position of the coating roller does not have described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] One aspect of the present invention is a bookbinding
apparatus comprising:
[0015] a coating device for coating adhesive onto a spine of a
sheet bundle;
[0016] a first moving device which moves the coating device along
the spine of the sheet bundle;
[0017] a second moving device which contacts and separates the
coating device against and away from the spine of the sheet bundle
in a substantially perpendicular direction to a surface of the
spine; and
[0018] a control device which controls the first moving device, the
second moving device and the coating device,
[0019] wherein the control device controls the first moving device
to move the coating device along the spine from near a one corner
of the spine of the sheet bundle toward another corner until the
coating device reaches to near the another corner of the spine of
the sheet bundle, then controls the second moving device to
separate the coating device away from the spine of the sheet bundle
and keeps the coating device for a predetermined duration after
separating.
[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is a bookbinding
apparatus comprising:
[0021] a coating device which coats adhesive onto a spine of a
sheet bundle,
[0022] a first moving device which moves the coating device along
the spine of the sheet bundle,
[0023] a second moving device which contacts and separates the
coating device against and away from the spine of the sheet bundle
in a substantially perpendicular direction toward a surface of the
spine; and
[0024] a control device which controls the first moving device, the
second moving method and the coating device,
[0025] wherein the coating device comprises an adhesive tub which
accommodates an adhesive, and a coating roller for supplying the
adhesive in the adhesive tub onto the spine of the sheet bundle,
and
[0026] wherein the control device controls the first moving device
to move the coating device along the spine from near a one corner
of the spine of the sheet bundle toward another corner until the
coating device reaches to near the another corner of the spine of
the sheet bundle,
[0027] then controls the second moving device to separate the
coating device away from the spine of the sheet bundle,
[0028] further controls the first moving device to move the coating
device until a plumb which passes near the another corner of the
spine is located in a zone from an inner side of a corner of the
adhesive tub to a peripheral surface of the coating roller and
keeps the coating device for a predetermined duration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an entire image forming system provided
with a bookbinding apparatus pertaining to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an entire coating apparatus.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed structure of a coating
apparatus 60.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory view of a stop position
near the lower streamside in the longitudinal direction corner
section SSB of coating device 61.
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an image forming
system, which has a bookbinding apparatus and an image forming
apparatus.
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a coating processing
control of adhesives of the bookbinding apparatus.
[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates a second flowchart of a coating
processing control of the adhesives of the bookbinding
apparatus.
[0036] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a coating processing
control of the adhesives according to the sheet size of the
bookbinding apparatus.
[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates an explanatory view of lower streamside
stop position information table TE1, which has memorized the lower
streamside stop position information on the coating device 61
corresponding to various kinds of sheet sizes.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Although the embodiment of illustration explains the present
invention, the present invention is not limited to this
embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates the entire image forming system provided
with a bookbinding apparatus concerning an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0040] An image forming system has an image forming apparatus A for
recoding an image onto a sheet, and a bookbinding apparatus B,
which carries out bookbinding processing of the sheet onto which
the image has been recorded by the image forming apparatus A.
[0041] The image forming apparatus A forms an image onto a sheet
with an electro photography method, and has an image forming
section A1, a document conveyance apparatus A2 and an image reading
section A3.
[0042] In the image forming section A1, a charging device 2, an
exposure device 3, a development device 4, a transfer device 5A, a
separation device 5B, and a cleaning device 6 are arranged around a
drum-like photo conductor 1. Charging, exposure, development, and
transfer are performed by such electro photographic processing
devices. A toner image is formed onto the photo conductor 1, and an
image is formed onto a sheet S1.
[0043] The sheet S1 is stored in three sheet feed trays 7A's. The
sheet S1 is sheet-fed from these sheet feed trays 7A one sheet at a
time, and the toner image on the photo conductor 1 is transferred
onto the sheet S1 by the transfer device 5A.
[0044] The toner image transferred onto the sheet Si passes through
a fixing device 8, and fixing processing is carried out. The sheet
S1 onto which fixing processing was carried out is sheet-ejected
from the ejection rollers 7C, or conveyed onto a sheet re-feeding
path 7E.
[0045] In the facedown sheet ejection in a one-side print, in the
face-up sheet ejection in a one-side print, or in the surface image
formation in double-sided image formation, a switching gate 7D
changes and guides the sheet S1. That is, in the face-up sheet
ejection, the switching gate 7D allows the sheet S1 to go straight
on, and in the facedown sheet ejection and the double-sided image
formation, the switching gate 7D guides the sheet S1 downward.
[0046] In the facedown sheet ejection, after the sheet Si is guided
downward, it is switch backed, and is conveyed upward and is
sheet-ejected from the ejection rollers 7C.
[0047] In the double-sided image formation, sheet S1 is guided
downward, and passes through sheet re-feeding path 7E after surface
inversion by switchback. The sheet Si is sheet-re-fed to the
transfer section by which the transfer device 5A has been arranged,
and transfer of a back surface image is performed.
[0048] The document conveyance apparatus A2 conveys one document at
a time into a reading position The image reading section A3 reads
the image of the document conveyed by document conveyance apparatus
A2 or the document placed on the document table 9, and generates an
image signal.
[0049] An image forming apparatus control device C1 controls the
operation related to the image forming apparatus A mentioned
above.
[0050] The bookbinding apparatus B is an apparatus configures a
sheet bundle by bundling a plurality of sheets S1 sent in from the
image forming apparatus A, and forms a booklet (book) by joining a
cover sheet to this sheet bundle.
[0051] Hereafter, the cover sheet is called a sheet cover S2 and
the bundle of sheet Si to which the cover sheet S2 is joined is
called a booklet S3.
[0052] The bookbinding apparatus B includes a conveyance section 10
for conveying a sheet S1 sheet-ejected from the image forming
apparatus A to a sheet ejection tray 20 or a sheet reversing
section 40, an sheet ejection tray 20, a sheet reversing section
40, a accumulation section 50 for accumulating the sheet S1 sent in
one by one or several sheets at a time, a coating apparatus 60, a
cover sheet storage section 80 for storing the cover sheet S2, a
cover sheet support section 90for supporting a cover sheet, and a
booklet ejection section 100 for accumulating booklets.
[0053] The sheet S1 ejected from the image forming apparatus A is
ejected through an ejection path 12 to a sheet ejection tray 20 by
the switching gate 11 provided via the conveyance section 10, or is
conveyed by to the sheet reversing section 40. In the event that it
is not in a bookbinding processing mode, the sheet S1 is ejected to
the ejection tray 20.
[0054] In a bookbinding mode, the sheet S1 is conveyed to the sheet
reversing section 40 through a conveyance path 13, and after the
sheet S1 is switch backed at the sheet reversing section 40, the
sheet S1 is conveyed to the accumulation section 50.
[0055] In the accumulation section 50, a set number of the sheet S1
is accumulated, the accumulated sheet is nipped and rotated between
a sheet accumulation board 501 and a sheet nipping board 502, and
holds the bundle of the sheet S1 in a substantially perpendicular
state.
[0056] A thickness measurement sensor 504 for measuring the
thickness of the bundle of the sheet S1 nipped between the
collection board 501 and the sheet nipping board 502 is disposed in
the sheet nipping board 502, and when sheet nipping board 502 nips
the bundle of the sheet S1, onto which load has been supplied
toward the collection board 501, measures the thickness of the
nipped bundle of the sheet S1.
[0057] An operator may calculate the thickness of a sheet bundle
based on the number of sheets and the paper type of a sheet, which
configure the booklet, set up by an operation panel P of the image
forming apparatus A instead of measuring the thickness of the sheet
bundle by the sensor.
[0058] And the adhesives are coated onto the undersurface of the
bundle of the sheet S1 nipped in the perpendicular state by the
coating apparatus 60. A hot melt, which is easy handling,
solidifies by cooling for a short time, and is maintaining
flexibility after solidification, is suitable for the
adhesives.
[0059] The cover sheet S2 sheet-fed from the cover sheet storage
section 80 contacts and adheres to the bundle of sheet S1 to which
the adhesives have been coated.
[0060] The booklet S3 formed by adhering the cover sheet S2 to the
bundle of sheet S1 is ejected by the booklet ejection section
100.
[0061] A bookbinding control device C2 controls the above-mentioned
operation related to the bookbinding apparatus B, and the operation
related to the coating apparatus 60 described later.
[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates the entire coating apparatus.
[0063] The coating apparatus 60 is configured by a coating device
61, which is arranged under a sheet bundle SS and coats adhesive AD
to the spine of the sheet bundle SS, a gap increasing and
decreasing device 62 (herein after the second moving device is
described as the gap increasing and decreasing device 62), which is
the second moving device for changing the gap between the adhesives
coating side of the coating device 61 and the spine of the sheet
bundle, and a parallel moving device 63 (hereinafter the first
moving device is described as the parallel moving device 63), which
is the first moving device for moving the coating device 61 along
the spine of the sheet bundle SS.
[0064] The coating device 61 includes an adhesives tub 601, which
contains adhesives AD, and a coating roller 602, which coats the
adhesives AD to the spine of the sheet bundle SS.
[0065] The gap increasing and decreasing device 62 includes a motor
MT4 for swinging the coating device 61 centering on an axis 601A,
and for changing a gap "d" between the adhesives coating side of
the coating roller 602 and the spine of the sheet bundle SS.
[0066] The parallel moving device 63 includes a motor MT1 for
moving the coating device 61 in parallel along the spine SA of the
sheet bundle SS via a drive belt 67.
[0067] The coating device 61 is capable of moving in the
up-and-down direction (the direction of an arrow W4) and to the
horizontal direction (the direction of arrows W2/W3) against the
sheet bundle SS in the drawing.
[0068] The up-and-down movement of the direction of the arrow W4 is
performed by the reciprocal rotation drive of the motor MT4, which
allows the coating device 61 to swing centering on the axis 601A.
And the gap "d" in between the surface (opposed position with spine
SA) of the coating roller 602 and the spine SA is increased and
decreased by this up-and-down movement.
[0069] The forward movement illustrated by the arrow W2 and the
backward movement illustrated by the arrow W3 are performed by the
reciprocal rotation drive of motor MT1, which reciprocally moves
the coating device 61 via the drive belt 67. And at the time of the
forward movement illustrated by the arrow W2, the coating roller
602 coats the adhesives AD to the spine SA of the sheet bundle SS,
and the coating roller 602 coats the adhesives AD to the spine SA
also at the time of the backward movement illustrated by the arrow
W3.
[0070] However, the adhesives AD may be coated only at the time of
either of the reciprocation.
[0071] The home position of the coating device 61 is the left end
position of the drawing, which is away from the sheet bundle SS in
the direction of arrow w2/w3, and is located at the back side when
viewing from the front of the bookbinding apparatus B in FIG. 1.
The surface (opposed position with spine SA) of the coating roller
6C2 and the spine SA are estranged in the arrow W4 direction,
therefore the coating of the adhesives is not performed.
[0072] And at the home position of the coating device 61, a pellet
PT of the adhesives is supplied from a supply apparatus 66.
[0073] FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed structure of the coating
apparatus 60.
[0074] Hereinafter, the coating of the adhesives at the time of the
forward movement and the backward movement of the coating roller
602 will be explained in detail in reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and
FIG. 4.
[0075] In the following explanation, the upper streamside refers to
the upper streamside at the time of the forward movement of the
coating device 61, and the lower streamside refers to the lower
streamside at the time of the forward movement of the coating
device 61.
[0076] The forward movement indicates the operation towards the
lower stream from the upper stream, and the backward movement
indicates the operation towards the upper stream from the lower
stream.
[0077] The coating apparatus 60, in addition to the
above-mentioned, includes regulating members 603 and 604, a heater
605, and an adhesive amount sensor 606.
[0078] A pellet in the adhesives tub 601 is heated by the heater
and melts to form the coating liquid of the adhesives AD. However,
the amount of the adhesives AD is detected by the adhesives amount
sensor 606, which consists of a temperature sensor, and a surface
of the liquid is maintained uniformly. The regulating member 604 is
supported by a plate-shaped support member 607. The regulating
member 604 regulates the layer thickness of the adhesives on the
coating roller 602 with the lower end corner 604B, and regulates
the layer thickness of the adhesives on the spine SA of the sheet
bundle with the upper end corner 604A.
[0079] The regulating member 603 of the coating roller located in
the upper stream side of the coating roller 602 regulates the
thickness of the coating layer when the coating device 61 conducts
coating by moving in the direction illustrated by the arrow W2. A
regulation section 604A of the regulating member 604 located in the
lower stream side of the coating roller 602 regulates the thickness
of a coating layer when the coating device 61 conducts coating by
moving in the direction illustrated by the arrow W3.
[0080] The coating roller 602 is rotated in the direction
illustrated by the arrow WI by the drive of motor MT2. Further, the
coating roller 602 pumps up the adhesives AD from the adhesive tub
601, and allows the adhesives AD to be coated onto the spine SA of
the sheet bundle SS.
[0081] When the bundle of the sheet S1 is held in a substantially
perpendicular state at the accumulation section 50, the movement of
the coating device 61 located in the home position (the left end
position in the figure) of the direction of the arrows W2/W3 is
started by a normal rotation of the motor MT1 towards the lower
stream side (the arrow W 2 direction) via the drive belt 67.
[0082] When the coating roller 602 of the coating device 61 comes
to near one corner, namely, near the longitudinal direction corner
SSA at the upper stream side of the sheet bundle SS, the coating
device 61 rises towards the sheet bundle SS by the normal rotation
of the motor MT4, and when the gap "d" between the spine SA of the
sheet bundle SS and the surface (opposed position with the spine
SA) of the coating the roller 602 becomes a value equaled to the
adhesives coating thickness set up in advance, the coating device
61 stops.
[0083] The one corner of the sheet bundle indicates the coating
direction upstream side corner of the sheet bundle in the forward
movement, and near the one corner indicates the position of 0-15 mm
inside (to the lower stream side), preferably 3-5 mm, from the
coating direction upstream side corner. When shorter than this, the
adhesives may overflow from the sheet corner, and the adhesion of
the corner may become weak when longer than this.
[0084] The another corner of the sheet bundle Indicates the coating
direction lower stream side corner of the sheet bundle in the
forward movement, and near the another corner indicates the
position of 0-5 mm inside (to the upper stream side), preferably
3-5 mm, from the coating direction lower stream side corner. When
shorter than this, the adhesives may overflow from the sheet
corner, and the adhesion of the corner may become weak when longer
than this.
[0085] FIG. 4 illustrates an explanatory view of the stop position
near the lower streamside longitudinal direction corner SSB of the
coating device 61.
[0086] The explanation of the same reference characters as FIG. 3
will be omitted.
[0087] When the coating roller 602 of the coating device 61 comes
to near the another corner, namely, near the longitudinal direction
corner SSB of the lower stream side of the sheet bundle SS, the
coating device 61 will descend in the direction estranged from the
sheet bundle SS by the reversal of the motor MT4, and the coating
device 61 will stop it in a lower end.
[0088] Since the adhesives AD coated onto the booklet bundle SS are
still in molten state, the adhesives AD coated onto the booklet
bundle SS are pulled by the coating roller 602 by the adhesive
power at the time of the descent of the coating device 61, and just
before breaking off, the adhesives AD form a convex section
AD1.
[0089] And before reaching to an open time, since the adhesives AD
forming the convex section AD1 is in molten state, the adhesives AD
may become a drop Q by the gravity, or may pull thread R.
[0090] Since conventionally the corner 601B in the upper stream
side of the adhesive tub 601 was located and stopped in further
lower stream side from the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the
lower stream side of the sheet bundle SS, the drop Q and the thread
R, which fall from the convex section AD1, did not enter into
adhesive tub 601. Therefore, the drop Q and the thread R fell and
befouled the vicinity of the coating apparatus 60.
[0091] Therefore, present invention is for not to befouling inside
of an apparatus by dropping the generated drop and thread of
adhesives into the adhesive tub 601, and melting them.
[0092] In a first embodiment, the motor MT1 is rotated in a forward
direction and the coating device 61 is moved from longitudinal
direction corner SSA in the upper streamside to the longitudinal
direction corner SSE in the lower streamside along the spine SA of
the sheet bundle. The motor MT4 is rotated in the backward
direction to estrange the coating device 61 from the spine SA of
the sheet bundle after the movement, and after the estrangement,
the motor MT1 and the motor M4 are stopped for a predetermined
duration to stop the coating device 61 for the predetermined
time.
[0093] And, after a predetermined time stop, the motor MT4 is
rotated in the forward direction and the coating device 61 is moved
toward the spine SA of the sheet bundle. After the movement, the
motor MT1 is rotated in the backward direction and the coating
device 61 is moved along the spine SA of the sheet bundle to near
the longitudinal direction corner SSA in the upper streamside.
[0094] In a second embodiment, the motor MT1 is rotated in the
forward direction and the coating device 61 is moved from the
longitudinal direction corner SSA in the upper streamside to near
the longitudinal direction corner SSE in the lower streamside along
spine SA of a sheet bundle. Then, after the movement, the motor MT4
is rotated in the backward direction to estrange the coating device
61 from the spine SA of the sheet bundle. Based on this operation,
the motor MT1 is rotated in the forward direction and the coating
device 61 is moved so that the plumb line X (a dashed dotted line)
near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower stream side
may be located in the zone Z included in the inner side of the
corner 601B of the adhesive tub 601 of the coating device 61, and
the upper stream side of upper stream side vertical plane Y of the
peripheral surface of the coating roller 602. After that, the
predetermined time stop of the coating device 61 is carried out by
the stop of the motor MT1 and the motor MT4.
[0095] And after a predetermined time stop, the motor MT1 is
rotated in the forward direction and the coating device 61 is moved
to near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower
streamside. After that, the motor MT4 is rotated in the forward
direction and the coating device 61 is moved toward the spine SA of
the sheet bundle. After the movement, the motor MT1 is rotated in
the backward direction and the coating device 61 is moved along the
spine SA of the sheet bundle to near the longitudinal direction
corner SSA in the upper streamside.
[0096] Here, in the first and the second embodiments, after the
coating device 61 is moved to near the longitudinal direction
corner SSA in the upper stream side, it is further preferable to
rotate the motor MT4 in the backward direction to estrange the
coating device 61 from the spine SA of the sheet bundle, and to
stop the coating device 61 for the predetermined time as mentioned
above.
[0097] The predetermined time for which the coating device 61 is
stopped is obtained by experimenting the duration for which the
adhesives AD, which forms a convex section AD1, becomes a drop and
will certainly not fall and the duration for which the adhesives AD
will not pull thread and by selecting whichever 45 longer. This
duration is memorized into a memory device and read out when it is
needed.
[0098] The time will be changed by the used adhesives, ambient
temperature and the temperature of melted adhesives. However, for
example, it is preferable to set the time at not less than 0.5
second and not more than the open time of the adhesives.
[0099] The following procedures may be used. The motor MT1 is
rotated in the forward direction and the coating device 61 is moved
from near the longitudinal direction corner SSA in the upper
streamside to near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the
lower streamside along the spine SA of the sheet bundle. While
rotating the motor MT4 in the backward direction and estranging the
coating device 61 from the spine SA of the sheet bundle after the
movement, at the same time, the motor MT1 is rotated in the forward
direction and the coating device 61 is moved so that the plumb line
X (dashed dotted line) near the longitudinal direction corner SSB
in the lower stream side is located in zone Z, which is included
inside the corner 601B of the adhesive tub 601 of the coating
device 61, and upper stream side of the upper stream side vertical
plane Y of the peripheral surface of the coating roller 602. After
that, the predetermined time stop of the motor MT1 and the motor
MT4 is carried out and the predetermined time stop of the coating
device 61 is carried out.
[0100] Explained was an embodiment, which rotates the motor MT1 in
the forward direction and the coating device 61 is moved from near
the longitudinal direction corner SSA in the upper stream side to
near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower stream side
along the spine SA of the sheet bundle, and rotates the motor MT4
in the backward direction to estrange the coating device 61 from
the spine SA of the sheet bundle after the movement. However, the
motor MT1 may be rotated in the forward direction and the coating
device 61 may be moved to the longitudinal direction corner SSB in
the lower stream side or the position, which exceeds longitudinal
direction corner SSB in the lower stream side, along the spine SA
of the sheet bundle from near the longitudinal direction corner SSA
in the upper stream side. And after the movement, the motor MT4 may
be rotated in the backward direction to estrange the coating device
51 from the spine SA of the sheet bundle.
[0101] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an image forming
system, which has a bookbinding apparatus and an image forming
apparatus.
[0102] The image forming system includes the image forming
apparatus A and the bookbinding apparatus B.
[0103] The image forming apparatus control device C1, which
controls the image forming apparatus A, and the bookbinding control
device C2, which controls the bookbinding apparatus B, respectively
include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory),
a nonvolatile RAM (Random Access Memory) (for example, a RAM backed
up by a battery) and an IF (interface) for interfacing with various
apparatuses, which will be described below.
[0104] An image forming communication device C11 is controlled by
the image forming apparatus control device C1, and performs a
serial communication with a bookbinding apparatus communication
device C22 of the bookbinding apparatus B.
[0105] The document conveyance apparatus A2 is controlled by the
image forming apparatus control device C1. The document conveyance
apparatus A2 conveys a document to the image reading section of the
image reading section A3.
[0106] The image reading section A3 is controlled by the image
forming apparatus control device C1, reads the image of the
document conveyed by the document conveyance apparatus A2, and
inputs document image information into the image forming apparatus
control device C1.
[0107] The image forming section A1 is controlled by the image
forming apparatus control device C1, and, for example, forms an
image onto a sheet based on the document image information inputted
by the image reading section A3.
[0108] A fixing device 8 is controlled by the image forming
apparatus control device C1, and is fixed by carrying out heat
sticking of the toner image formed on the sheet by the image
forming section A1.
[0109] An operation panel P has a touch panel and is controlled by
image forming apparatus control device C1. The information related
to various operation switches or bookbinding processing are
displayed on a touch panel, and the operation information on
various operation switches is inputted into the image forming
apparatus control device C1.
[0110] A bookbinding apparatus communication device C22 is
controlled by a bookbinding control device C2, and performs serial
communication with the image forming communication device C11 of
the image forming apparatus A.
[0111] A conveyance section 10 is controlled by the bookbinding
control device C2, and conveys the ejected sheet S1 from the image
forming apparatus A to a sheet ejection tray 20 or a sheet
reversing section 40.
[0112] The sheet ejection tray 20 is controlled by the bookbinding
control device C2, and accumulates the sheet S1 conveyed from the
conveyance section 10.
[0113] The sheet reversing section 40 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2, reverses (switchback) the sheet S1
conveyed from the conveyance section 10, and sheet feeds it to an
accumulation section 50.
[0114] The accumulation section 50 is controlled by the bookbinding
control device C2, and accumulates predetermined number-of-sheets
of the sheet S1 conveyed from conveyance section 10.
[0115] The coating apparatus 60 is controlled by the bookbinding
control device C2, and coats adhesives to the spine of the sheet
bundle accumulated by the accumulation section 50.
[0116] A pulse motor is preferred for the motor MT1 of the coating
apparatus 60, and the motor MT1 moves the coating device 61 along
the spine of the sheet bundle. And the bookbinding control device
C2 counts the drive pulse of the motor MT1, calculates the movement
amount of the coating device 61 in the direction of the arrows
W2/W3, and grasps the position of the coating device 61.
[0117] The movement amount of the direction of the arrows W2/W3 of
the coating device 61 may be grasped by counting the pulse of the
pulse encoder, which is connected to the motor MT1, by providing a
counter C21, which is controlled by bookbinding control device
C2.
[0118] A motor MT2 of the coating apparatus 60 rotates the coating
roller 602.
[0119] A pulse motor is preferred for the motor MT4 of the coating
apparatus 60, and the motor MT4 moves the coating device 61
perpendicularly to the spine of the sheet bundle. And the
bookbinding control device C2 counts the drive pulse of the motor
MT4, calculates the movement amount in the arrow W4 direction of
the coating device 61, and grasps the position of the coating
device 61.
[0120] The pulse of the pulse encoder PE connected to motor MT4 may
be arranged to be counted by providing the counter C21 controlled
by the bookbinding control device C2 to grasp the movement amount
of the coating device 61 in the arrow W4 direction.
[0121] A thickness measurement sensor 504 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2. The thickness measurement sensor 504
measures the thickness of nipped sheet bundle nipped by the
accumulation section 50, and inputs measured value into the
bookbinding control device C2.
[0122] An environmental temperature sensor 505 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2. The environmental temperature sensor
505 measures the temperature near the accumulation section 50, and
inputs measured value into the bookbinding control device C2.
[0123] A timer C23 is controlled by the bookbinding control device
C2. The timer C23 measures the stop duration of the coating device
61, and inputs the stop duration into the bookbinding control
device C2.
[0124] A cover sheet storage section 80 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2. The cover sheet storage section 80
sheet-feeds the cover sheet stored if needed.
[0125] A cover sheet support section 90 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2. The cover sheet support section 90
adheres the cover sheet onto the spine of the sheet bundle by
supporting the cover sheet, which was sheet-fed.
[0126] The booklet ejection section 100 is controlled by the
bookbinding control device C2. The booklet ejection section 100
accumulates the completed booklet. FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart
of a coating processing control of the adhesives of the bookbinding
apparatus.
[0127] Explanation will be conducted based on the assumption that
the coating device 61 is positioned at the home position during
image formation (under continuation sheet feeding).
[0128] 1. Holding of sheet bundle to the accumulation section (STEP
S101): When the set number of sheets of sheet S1 have been
accumulated at the accumulation section 50, the accumulated sheets
will be nipped between the sheet accumulation board 501 and the
sheet nipping board 502, and will be rotated to hold the bundle of
sheet Si in a substantially perpendicular states. Then, proceeds to
the following step.
[0129] And the thickness of the nipped bundle of sheet S1 is
measured by the thickness measurement sensor 504 The RAM memorizes
the measured value.
[0130] 2. Start of movement of the coating device 61 (STEP S102):
The coating device 61 is started to move toward the lower
streamside (W 2 direction) via the drive belt 67 by the forward
rotation of the motor MT1. Then proceeds to the next step.
[0131] 3. The coating device 61 conducts determination of arrival
to near the corner of the upper stream side (STEP S103): The
movement is continued, and when the coating roller 602 of the
coating device 61 reaches near the longitudinal direction corner
SSA in the upper stream side (Yes), the process proceeds to the
next step and STEP S103 is repeated until the coating device 61
reaches to the longitudinal direction corner SSA (No).
[0132] Here, the movement of the coating device 61 in the W2/W3
direction becomes possible by stopping the movement by having the
counter C21 count the drive pulse of the motor MT1, converting the
counted value to the movement value of the coating device 61, when
the converted movement value becomes equal value to the
predetermined distance, for example, the distance from the home
position in the W2/W3 direction to near the longitudinal direction
corner SSA in the upper stream side.
[0133] The output pulse of a pulse encoder connected to the motor
MT4 may be counted by the counter C21 and the counted value may be
converted to the movement amount of the coating device 61.
[0134] 4. The rise of the coating device 61 (STEP 104): After the
coating device 61 has reached near the longitudinal direction
corner SSA in the upper streamside, the coating device 61 is raised
toward the booklet bundle SS by the forward rotation of the motor
MT4. Then, when the gap "d" between the spine SA of the sheet
bundle SS and the surface (opposed position with the spine SA) of
the coating roller 602 becomes the equal value to the adhesives
coating thickness, the coating device 61 is stopped. Then, proceeds
to the next step.
[0135] Also during the rise, the movement is continued towards the
lower streamside (W2 direction).
[0136] Here, the movement of the coating device 61 in the direction
of W4 becomes possible by stopping the movement by having the
counter C21 count the drive pulse of the motor MT4 and by
converting the counted value to the converted movement value of the
coating device 61, when the movement amount reaches to a value
equal to a predetermined distance, for example, a distance from the
home position of the coating device 61 in the W4 direction to the
position where the coating roller 602 has reached to the point
which is the gap "d" away from the spine SA.
[0137] The output pulse of the pulse encoder PE connected to the
motor MT4 may be counted by the counter C21, and the count value
may be converted into the movement amount of the coating device
61.
[0138] 5. Determination of whether the coating device 61 has
reached to near the corner of the down stream side (STEP S105): The
coating roller 602 moves toward the lower stream side (W2
direction) while coating adhesive AZ onto the spine SA of the sheet
bundle SS by the continuation of the forward rotation of the motor
MT1. When the coating roller 602 of the coating device 61 has
reached to near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower
stream side reaches (Yes), then it proceeds to the following STEP,
STEP S105 is repeated until the coating device 61 reaches to near
the corner in the lower stream side (No).
[0139] 6. Stop of the coating device 61 (STEP S106): The movement
toward the lower streamside (W2 direction) of the coating device 61
is stopped by the stop of the motor MT1 of the coating device 61
(STEP S106).
[0140] 7. Descent of the coating device 61 (STEP S107): By reaching
to near the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower stream
side, the motor MT4 rotates in the backward direction, and the
coating device 61 descends and stops, and proceeds to the following
STEP.
[0141] 8. Determination for continuation of stop for predetermined
duration (STEP S108): A timer of a timer C23 is started by the stop
of the descent of the coating device, When the time of the timer
C23 is up after the predetermined duration (Yes), the process
proceeds to the next step and STEP S209 is repeated until the time
is up (No).
[0142] This stop time is memorized by memory device, such as the
ROM, as described above, and is read out in this STEP.
[0143] Based on the above operation, even when the adhesives AD
becomes a drop shape or drops while pulling threads, the drop or
the thread will fall and melt in the adhesive tub 601. Therefore,
the inside of the bookbinding apparatus B will not be befouled.
[0144] 9. Rise of the coating device 61 (STEP S109): After stopping
for a predetermined duration, the coating device 61 ascends toward
the booklet bundle SS by the forward direction rotation of the
motor MT4. When gap d between the spine SA of the sheet bundle SS
and the surface (opposed position with the spine SA) of the coating
roller 602 becomes a value equal to adhesives coating thickness,
the coating device 61 is stopped, and the process proceeds to the
following STEP.
[0145] 10. Start of the movement of the coating device 61 (STEP
S110): The movement of the coating device 61 towards the upper
stream side (the direction of W3) via a drive belt 67 is started by
the backward rotation of the motor MT1, and the process proceeds to
the following STEP.
[0146] 11. Determination of the coating device 61 reaching to near
the corner of the upper stream (STEP S111): The coating roller 602
is moved toward the upper stream side (W3 direction) while coating
the adhesive AZ onto the spine SA of the sheet bundle SS by the
continuation of the backward rotation of the motor MT1. When the
coating device 61 has reached to near the upper stream side corner
(Yes), the process proceeds to the next step and the step S111 will
be repeated until the coating device 611 reaches to the home
position (No).
[0147] 12. End of coating (STEP S112): Movement towards the upper
streamside (W3 direction) of the coating device 61 is stopped by
the stop of the motor MT1. And the coating device 61 is descended
to the home position in the W4 direction by the backward rotation
of the motor MT4 to finish the coating,
[0148] 13. Determination of end of job (STEP S113): Based on the
finish of the coating, the ending of job is determined. When the
job has ended (Yes), the process proceeds to END. STEP S101-STEP
S113 are repeated when the job has not ended (No), until the job is
completed. FIG. 7 illustrates a second flowchart of the coating
processing control of the adhesives of the bookbinding
apparatus.
[0149] The flowchart of the second embodiment will be
explained.
[0150] 1. Holding of sheet bundle to accumulation section (STEP
S201): Since it Is the same as that of STEP S101, explanation will
be omitted.
[0151] 2. Starting of movement of the coating device 61 (STEP
S202): Since it is the same as that of STEP S102, explanation will
be omitted.
[0152] 3. Determination of the coating device 61 reaching to near
the corner in the upper stream (STEP S203): Since it is the same as
that of STEP S103, explanation will be omitted.
[0153] 4. Rise of the coating device 61 (STEP S204): Since it is
the same as that of STEP S104, explanation will be omitted.
[0154] 5. Determination of whether the coating device 61 has
reached to near the corner in the upper stream (STEP S205): Since
it is the same as that of STEP S105, explanation will be
omitted.
[0155] 6. Stop of the coating device 61 (STEP S206): Since it is
the same as that of STEP S106, explanation will be omitted.
[0156] 7. Descent of the coating device 61 (STEP S207): Since it is
the same as that of STEP S107, explanation will be omitted.
[0157] 8. Determination of a reaching of the adhesive tub of the
coating device 61 below near the corner (STEP S208): After
descending, the coating device 61 is moved toward the lower
streamside (W2 direction) by the forward rotation of the motor MT1.
When the count value coincides with the drive pulse of the motor M1
corresponding to the distance where a plumb X passing through near
longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower stream side of the
sheet bundle positions inside the zone Z included between the
inside corner of the adhesive tank and an upper stream side plumb
surface Y of the peripheral surface in the upper stream side of the
coating roller 602 (Yes), the motor M1 is stopped, and the process
moves to the next step. And, STEP S208 is repeated (No) until the
drive pulse and the counted value become equal
[0158] 9. Determination of a predetermined duration for
continuation of descent (STEP S209): In accordance with the stop of
the movement of the adhesive tub of the coating device 61 below
near the corner of sheet bundle SS, a timer of a timer C23 is
started. When the time of the timer C23 is up after the
predetermined duration (Yes), the process proceeds to the next step
and STEP S209 is repeated until the time is up (No).
[0159] This stop time is memorized by the memory device, such as
the ROM, as described above, and is read out in this STEP.
[0160] Based on the above operation, even when the adhesives AD
becomes a drop shape or drops while pulling threads, the drop or
the thread will fall and melt in the adhesive tub 601. Therefore,
the inside of the bookbinding apparatus B will not be befouled.
Further, the adhesive AD will not fall on the coating roller. Thus,
the fallen drops (lump of adhesive) on the coating roller do not
generate partial coating unevenness.
[0161] 10. Start of the movement of the coating device 61 (STEP
S210): Same as STEP S110, the movement of the coating device 61
towards the upper stream side (the direction of W3) via a drive
belt 67 is started by the backward rotation of the motor MT1, and
when the coating roller 602 of the coating device 61 reaches near
the longitudinal direction corner SSB in the lower stream side
(Yes), the process proceeds to the next step and STEP S210 is
repeated until the coating device 61 reaches to the longitudinal
direction corner SSB (No)
[0162] 11. Rise of the coating device 61 (STEP S211): Since it is
the same as that of STEP S109, explanation will be omitted.
[0163] 12. Determination of the coating device 61 reaching near the
corner in the upper stream (STEP S212): Since it is the same as
that of STEP S111, explanation will be omitted.
[0164] 13. End of coating (STEP S213): Since it is the same as that
of STEP S112, explanation will be omitted.
[0165] 14. Determination of end of job (STEP S214): Since it is the
same as that of STEP S113, explanation will be omitted.
[0166] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a coating processing
control of the adhesives according to the sheet size of the
bookbinding apparatus.
[0167] FIG. 9 illustrates an explanatory view of lower streamside
stop position information table TE1, which memorized the lower
streamside stop position information on the coating device 61
corresponding to various kinds of sheet sizes.
[0168] The lower streamside stop position information table TE1
includes various kinds of sheet size column TE11 and a lower
streamside stop position column TE12 storing the stop position of
the coating device 61 corresponding to each sheet size.
[0169] For example, in the case of A4 size, it means to have the
coating device stop in the position moved L.sub.A4 to the arrow W2
direction from the home position of the direction of the arrows
W2/W3 of the coating device 61.
[0170] 1. Reception of sheet size (STEP S301): When the sheet size
(for example, A4) to which the adhesives are coated is received by
the communication device C22 (serial communication) through a
communication device C11 of the image forming apparatus A, which
performs serial communication, the received sheet size (for
example, A4 length) will be memorized into the RAM, and process
proceeds to the following STEP.
[0171] 2. Determination of lower streamside stop position of the
coating device according to sheet size information (STEP S302): The
lower streamside stop position information table TE1 is read from
the ROM. The lower stream side stop position of the coating device
corresponding to the sheet size (for example, A4 length) read from
RAM among various kinds of sheet sizes memorized by the sheet size
column TE11 will be searched from the lower stream side stop
position column TE12 (for example, L.sub.A4), the position (for
example, L.sub.A4) which the coating device 61 is supposed to stop
is determined, and the process proceeds to the following STEP.
[0172] 3. Memorization of upper streamside stop position of the
coating device (STEP S303): The determined upper streamside stop
position (for example, L.sub.A4) of the coating device is memorized
into the memory device, such as the RAM, and the process proceeds
to END.
[0173] Here, in STEP S105 and STEP S205 described above, whether
the coating device 61 has reached near the longitudinal direction
corner SSB in the lower stream side of the sheet bundle SS is
determined by determining that the coating device 61 has moved the
distance from the home position in the W2/W3 direction to the
predetermined upper stream side stop position of the coating
device, for example, in a case of A4 length setup, whether the
coating device has moved for the distance of L.sub.A4 is determined
by converting the count value of the drive pulse of the motor MT1
into a distance.
* * * * *